Classical Music Festival set to go in Vernon, Kelowna

The seventh annual Classical Music Festival begins this week.

The festival will see 27 performances in Vernon and Kelowna between June 23 and July 16.

The event kicks off on Thursday, June 23 in Vernon with the Constrato Armonico playing French Baroque at the Peace Lutheran Church in Vernon at 7:30 p.m. A repeat performance will be held at St. Michael’s Cathedral in Kelowna at 7:30 p.m. on Friday.

The festival will see featured concerts that cost $35 or $40 to attend; free concerts at Polson Park; chamber music performances, world music and jazz bands that cost $20 or $25 each to see; free performances by community groups, and youth summer camp performances that cost $30 each.

The schedule for the seventh annual Classical Music Festival in Vernon and Kelowna (image courtesy of Vernon Proms)

Included in the free Polson Park performances is the Fish of Five Brass Quintet (6 p.m. June 27), the Okanagan Symphony Wind Ensemble (6 p.m. July 2), Slide Rule Trombone Quartet (6 p.m. July 4), and the Wind Jammers Woodwind Quintet and Celtic Folk Music with Accordion and Fiddle (starting at 6 p.m. July 11). Each of these shows will be held at the Polson Park Bandshell.

The free community group performances in Vernon include Ancora and Friends: A Trip to the Emerald Isle (3 p.m. June 25), Okanagan Recorders Orchestra in Concert (2 p.m. June 26), Alexandra Babbel Vocal Studio Concert (3 p.m. July 2), Voix Du Coeur Vocal Concert (2 p.m. July 3), and Oko Baroquo: Mixed Bag of Early Music (2 p.m. July 16). All of these shows will be held at the Peace Lutheran Church.

Tickets for the festival, including festival passes and music student discounted tickets, can be found at Vernon Proms’ website.